Go Bala le go Tlhaloganya: Reading Comprehension
What comprehension tests
Reading passages may be narrative, descriptive, informational or argumentative. Questions target main idea, supporting detail, sequence, cause and effect, vocabulary in context, inference, and writer's purpose. Skim first for the topic sentence of each paragraph, then scan for the exact words a question uses.
Reading for structure
Typical Setswana paragraphs open with a topic statement and then illustrate it. Look for connectives: sa ntlha (firstly), go feta moo (moreover), mme (and/but), ka go rialo (therefore), kwa bofelong (finally). These show how ideas are linked and often answer 'why' and 'what happened next' questions.
Vocabulary in context
Do not translate word-for-word. Ask what the sentence would lose if the word were removed. Idioms such as go tshwara pelo (to be patient) or go latlhela matsogo (to give up) rarely mean their literal parts. Use surrounding clues: definitions after a dash, examples after jaaka, contrasts after mme.
Traps to watch
- Choosing a true statement that does not answer the question asked.
- Confusing a character's words with the writer's own view.
- Over-reading inference questions - the answer must be supported by the text.
- Ignoring negatives and qualifiers (gangwe, ka metlha, gantsi).
- Missing answers spread across two sentences.
Worked rule of thumb
For any question, underline the key word in the question, find the sentence containing it or its synonym, and read one sentence before and after. Then answer in your own words where the question says ka mafoko a gago.